Real Madrid willing to sell Aurelien Tchouameni to Man Utd in £68m deal in order to fund ambitious Rodri transfer

JOSE MOURINHO is ready to sell Aurelien Tchouameni to Manchester United so Real Madrid can fund a swoop for World Cup winner Rodri. The Red Devils have enquired about £68million-rated Tchouameni, 26, with boss Michael Carrick keen on a specialist defensive midfielder to join new boys Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. Tchouameni played at the World Cup Credit: Getty Madrid are now prepared to cash in on Tchouameni Credit: Getty Real are desperate to sign Manchester City ace Rodri, who was named the World Cup’s best player after leading Spain to glory over Argentina on Sunday. The La Roja captain, 30 — valued at £85m — has 12 months left on his Etihad deal and will miss the start of the Prem season as he needs minor back surgery. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! New Real coach Jose had planned on keeping France star Tchouameni, who is under contract until 2028 and had verbally agreed a new deal at the Bernabeu. But SunSport understands the 15-time European Cup winners are prepared to cash in. Tchouameni joined Real from Monaco for an initial fee of £68m in 2022.Real sources say United’s interest in the player is “strong” now the World Cup has finished. The Red Devils have lost two midfielders with Brazil veteran Casemiro, 34, now at Inter Miami, while 25-year-old Uruguayan Manuel Ugarte sustained a serious knee injury at the tournament. Tchouameni’s age, availability and pedigree, having started the 2022 World Cup final against the Argies and won the Champions League with Real, appeals to United. The former Monaco star also fits their preferred age range of 22-26. Most read in Sport Real Madrid are desperate to sign Rodri Credit: Getty New boss Jose Mourinho is prepared to let Tchouameni leave if it means signing the Spain captain Credit: Getty United had the chance to sign Tchouameni from Monaco in 2021. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Old Trafford gaffer at the time, wanted to bring in a midfielder and was keen on Declan Rice, who was then at West Ham. But the club had not budgeted for a player in that position. Madrid bought Tchouameni to replace Casemiro after United bought him in a £70m deal in 2022. The Red Devils have had mixed success with signings from Madrid. Casemiro impressed in his first and last seasons but was released last month, while injury-prone Raphael Varane arrived aged 28 in 2021 and was also let go two years ago. And Angel Di Maria was a £59.7m British-record buy in 2014 — but he lasted less than a year. Casemiro joined United in August 2022 Credit: GETTY Varane joined United a year before Casemiro Credit: AFP Comment now